WCFA Past Presidents

The Wholesale Florists and Florist Suppliers of America, Inc. founded in 1961, evolved from the Wholesale Commission of Florists of America. The latter group, organized in Chicago, Illinois in 1926, provided a firm foundation for WF&FSA to build upon. The men listed on this page served as president of the WCFA during its 35 years of existence. They, and many others, greatly contributed to making WF&FSA the thriving association it is today.

1926—1927
William F. Ekas
William F. Ekas Wholesale Florist
Baltimore, MD

1927—1928
Frank A. Windler
Windler Wholesale Floral Co.
St. Louis, MO

1928—1929
Howard J. Hook
Pittsburgh Cut Flower Co.
Pittsburgh, PA

1929—1930
Henry G. Berning
H.G. Berning Inc.
St. Louis, MO

1930—1934
William A. Hansen

William A. Hansen Co.
Chicago, IL

1934—1936
Charles F. Pennock
S.S. Pennock Co.
New York, NY

1936—1938
Paul Rigo
Henshaw Floral Co.
New York, NY

1938—1941
Edward Dupuy
Dupuy Wholesale Florist
Whitestone, Long Island, NY

1941—1944
S.S. Pennock Jr.
S.S. Pennock Co.
Baltimore, MD

1944—1947
David Geddis Jr.
D.S. Geddis Jr. Co.
St. Louis, MO

1947—1949
Al J. Grigsby
Berthold-Grigsby Inc.
Cleveland, OH

1949—1951
George L. Stuppy
Stuppy Supply Co.
Kansas City, MO

1951—1953
Leonard C. Koehler
Koehler, Dramm & Johnson
Chicago, IL

1953—1955
Oscar G. Carlstedt
Oscar G. Carlstedt Co.
Jacksonville, FL

1955—1957
O. Ben Haley Jr.
Denver Wholesale Florists Co.
Denver, CO

1957—1959
Harrison Kennicott Jr.
Kennicott Brothers Co.
Chicago, IL

1959—1961
P. S. Cook
Norfolk Wholesale Floral Co.
Norfolk, VA

WF&FSA PAST PRESIDENTS

In its past presidents, WF&FSA is privileged to have a vast reservoir of experience and leadership. These statesmen are constantly available for consultation with the Board of Directors, staff and committees. This continuing commitment to the welfare of the association on the part of its past presidents is one of WF&FSA’s greatest assets.

1961-1963
Robert C. Dewey
S. S. Pennock Co.
Philadelphia, PA

1963-1966
Leland T. Kintzele
Denver Wholesale Florist Co.
Denver, CO

1966-1968
James O. Nordlie
Nordlie Inc. Inc.
Detroit, Ml

1968-1970
Samuel S. Pennock III
S. S. Pennock Co.
Philadelphia, PA

1970-1972
Yoshimi Shibata
Mt. Eden Nursery
Mt. Eden, CA

1972-1974
George E. Wolfe, Jr.
Wolfe Wholesale Florist
Waco, TX

1974-1975
Donald E. Hook
Pittsburg Cut Flower Co.
Pittsburg, PA

1975-1976
John Van Hanford Jr.
Handford’s Inc.
Charlotte, NC

1976-1977
William B. Arnett
Four State Wholesale Florist
Tulsa, OK

1977-1978
William C. Sieck
Claymore C. Sieck
Baltimore, MD

1978-1979
Jake Van Namen
Vans Inc.
Alsip, IL

1979-1980
Pete Garcia
Pete Garcia Co.
Atlanta, GA

1980-1981
Jerome Wagner
David L. Jones Whlse. Floral Co.
Seattle, WA

1981-1982
William C. Belden
Oscar G. Carlstedt Co.
Jacksonville, FL

1982-1983
Knud Nielsen, Jr.
Knud Nielsen Co.
Evergreen, AL

1983-1984
Robert H. Weatherford
Southern Floral Co.
Houston, TX

1984-1986
James C. Stuppy
Stuppy Floral Products Co.
North Kansas City, MO

1986-1987
Alvin V. Dauble
Ziedler Whlse. Floral Co.
Evansville, IN

1987-1988
Harrison (Red) Kennicott
Kennicott Brothers Co.
Chicago, IL

1988-1989
Robert J. Carbone
R.J. Carbone Co.
Cranston, RI

1989-1990
James F. Gaunt
Southview Inc.
Romulus, Ml

1990-1991
A. James Edgar
Austin S. Edgar Inc.
Syracuse, NY

1991-1992
Robert M. Wilkins
Delaware Valley Whlse. Florists
Sewell, NJ

1992- 1993
David Mears
Mears Floral Products
Springfield, MO

1993-1994
Paul C. Zieger
Zieger & Sons Inc.
Philadelphia, PA

1994-1995
John D. Shelton
Pajaro Valley Greenhouses Inc.
Watsonville, CA

1995-1996
Leonard Levy
Hillcrest Garden Inc.
Paramus, NJ

1996-1997
Walter Rojahn Jr.
Rojahn and Malaney Co.
Milwaukee, WI

1997-1998
LeRoy Franzoia
California Flower Shippers Inc.
Mountain View, CA

1998-1999
James A. Hill
Fresh Concepts
Ft. Lauderdale, FL

1999-2000
Alan Jacobson
Jacobson Floral Supply Inc.
Boston, MA

2000-2001
Arlene Sorensen
Lincoln Wholesale Florists Co.
Lincoln, NE

2001-2002
Tim Matsuno
Greenleaf Wholesale Florist, Inc.
Brighton, CO

2002-2003
Dwight J. Larimer
Design Master Color Tool, Inc.
Denver, CO

2003-2004
Jack Van Namen
Buena Vista Floral SA de CV
Villa Guerrero, Mexico

2004-2005
John R. Wilkins
Delaware Valley Floral Group
Sewell, NJ

2005-2006
Wanda Weder
Highland Supply Corporation
Highland, IL

2006-2007
William Hardin
Hardin Wholesale Florist, Inc.
Liberty, NC

2007-2008
Dave Garcia
Pete Garcia Company
Atlanta, GA

2008-2009
William La Fever
Bill Doran Company
Rockford, IL

2009-2010
Gary Doran
Kennicott Brothers Company
Chicago, IL

2010-2011
David Armellini
Armellini Industries Inc
Stuart, FL

2011-2012
Nicholas Fronduto
Jacobson Floral Supply, Inc.
Boston, MA

2012-2013
Pat Dahlson
Mayesh Wholesale Florist, Inc.
Los Angeles, CA

2013-2014
Tom Figueroa, AIFD
Nordlie, Inc.
Warren, MI

2014-2015
Alan Tanouye
Floralife, Div. of Smithers Oasis
Walterboro, SC

2015-2016
Rob Shibata
Mt. Eden Floral Company LLC
San Jose, CA

2016 - 2017
Santiago Cock-Rada
Liberty Blooms
Miami, FL